The Engineering and Construction Industry in Jamaica is hampered both by politicians trying to enforce politically-motivated employment conditions on engineering managers working in their constituency, and criminal elements ostensibly providing ‘security’ for works. Failure to accept this patronage, corruption and extortion often leads to death, injury or severe damage to engineering and construction works. This paper serves to investigate and analyse the problems and costs of this system within the context of a dangerous global environment. The authors consider extortion as a form of terrorism and discusses the vulnerabilities of engineering and construction works in general to terrorist activities. Policy options are suggested in an effort to address this untenable situation, globally and in Jamaica specifically.....read more